On function spaces related to finite element approximation theory (Q916024)

The paper deals with a certain scale of approximation spaces based on sequences of finite element subspaces over polyhedral domains: Let \(T_ i\) be a sequence of dyadically refined regular and quasiuniform (with element size \(2^{-1})\) triangulations of such a domain, and let \(S_ i^{(k)}=g_ i=a_{ij}\cdot N_{ij}\) be the corresponding subspaces of Lagrange elements of type (k) where \(N_{ij}\) are the nodal basis functions w.r.t. \(T_ i\). Then, for \(s=0\), the scale \(A^{s,k}_{p,q}=f\in L_ p:\) \(f=\sum_{i}g_ i\) (convergence in \(L_ p)\), \(g_ i\in S_ i^{(k)}\), \(f_{A^{s,k}_{p,q}}=\inf 2^{is}\cdot g_ i L_ p\ell_ q\) consists of quasi-normed Banach spaces which are closely related (via embeddings) to Besov-Sobolev spaces. The paper gives a detailed description of these relationships (with proofs in the two-dimensional case). Then, an inner theory (traces, equivalent quasi-norms, Sobolev embeddings, approximation estimates) is developed by stressing the nice local structure of the finite element subspaces. Finally, the approach is used to study the problem of asymptotically optimal triangulations and improved error estimates in the finite element method for elliptic problems where the solution contains singularities. (See also the author's publications: \textit{G. Geymonat} and \textit{P. Oswald}, Some remarks on approximation by finite element methods. In: Approximation and function spaces, Proc. 27th Semest. Warsaw/Pol. Banach Center Publ. 22, 137-164 (1989). \textit{P. Oswald}, On the degree of nonlinear spline approximation in Besov-Sobolev spaces, J. Approximation Theory 61, No.2, 131-157 (1990). \textit{P. Oswald}, On estimates for one- dimensional spline approximation. In: Spines in numerical analysis, Contrib. Int. Semin., ISAM 89 Weissig/GDR, Math. Res. 52, 111-124 (1989).)